The Japanese utility, known as Tepco, said the suit was filed with a local court in California, claiming that they suffered physical, economic and mental damage, as the utility intentionally provided inaccurate information about radiation exposure.

The utility said the residents are demanding Tepco set up a $1 billion fund for damage compensation and are also calling for compensation for each plaintiff.

CBS News reported earlier this week that more than 100 former and current Reagan crew members have joined a federal lawsuit against Tepco for radiation exposure.

As Home Post previously reported, eight Reagan sailors filed that lawsuit in U.S. District Court in San Diego in December of 2012. (The Reagan was homeported in San Diego at the time of the earthquake, but is currently based in Washington state.)

In response to the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the Reagan participated in the humanitarian mission called Operation Tomodachi - bringing food, water, and medical supplies to the people of Japan.

I have heard that the Carrier itself, which is now in drydock,may be also contaminated and if so, it would be a multiple billion dollar loss. I also heard that the dock workers working on it are getting sick! I'd like KPBS to check both those stories out!

If it turns out that Officers got pills to prevent radiation sickness and the enlisted did not, then the US Navy will look very bad indeed, since this was a nuclear powered vessel; they had both the trained personnel and the technology to know exactly what they were getting from Fukushima via on-board equipment and secure satellite feeds!